Research Interests

  • Kidney Development
  • Renal Progenitors
  • Tissue Regeneration
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney

Biography

  • Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
  • Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Nephrology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

See Lurie Children's Provider Profile

Gal Finer, MD, PhD, is a board-certified pediatrician and a pediatric nephrologist in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and is an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Finer has been caring for children with a variety of kidney diseases at Lurie Children’s since 2007. Her current interest lies in the research of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT). Dr. Finer acquired knowledge in genetic diseases of the kidney while serving the Bedouin population in Israel, and in molecular pathways of renal fibrosis and kidney development while working in the laboratories of Dr. William H. Schnaper and Dr. Susan Quaggin. Dr. Finer is the recipient of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois Young Investigator Award of 2017, and of the NIH-K08 Clinical Investigator Award in 2020.

Education and Background

  • Residency in Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago 2013-2015
  • Fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology, Children's Memorial Hospital 2007-2010
  • PhD, Ben Gurion University of the Negev 2004-2007
  • Residency in Pediatrics, Soroka University Medical Center 2000-2004
  • MD, Ben Gurion University of the Negev 2000

Research Highlights

THE ROLE OF THE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 21 IN KIDNEY DEVELOPMENT

The stroma plays multiple important roles in kidney development including regulation of ureteric bud branching, vascularization, and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. Here we show that the Transcription Factor 21 (Tcf21) in Foxd1+ stromal progenitor cells play a critical role in the formation of the medullary stroma, the loop of Henle, and the collecting ducts via beta-Catenin/Wnt signaling. Our data also suggest that stromal Tcf21 regulates nephron progenitor cell differentiation non-autonomously. This work provides mechanistic insight to the complex crosstalk between the ureteric bud, cap mesenchyme and the stroma during kidney development, and advances our understanding of the instructive signals essential to devise regenerative solutions for kidney diseases.

Similar Researchers

Basic and Preclinical Science

Isabelle De Plaen, MD

Principal Investigator

De Plaen Laboratory

Research Interests

Cytokines, Digestive System (Including Gallbladder and Liver), Immunology, Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Neonatal Necrotizing Entercolitis

Recent Publication

Human Milk Growth Factors and Their Role in NEC Prevention: A Narrative Review.

Clinical and Community Trials

Research Interests

Nephrotic Syndrome, Lupus Nephritis, Chronic Kidney Disease, Glomerular Kidney Disease, Congenital Kidney Conditions 

Clinical and Community Trials

Research Interests

Spina Bifida, Chronic Kidney Disease, Kidney Stones, Health Services and Outcomes Research

Recent Publication

Safety and Efficacy of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty Compared to Open Repair in Infants under 1 Year of Age

Basic and Preclinical Science

Research Interests

Microbiome, Host-Microbial Interactions, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Pathogenesis

Recent Publication

Screening Students and Staff for Asymptomatic Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Chicago Schools.

Community, Population Health, and Outcomes

Research Interests

Health Policy, Healthcare Quality, Health Disparities, Outcome Measures

Basic and Preclinical Science

Divakar S. Mithal, MD, PhD

Mithal (Divakar) Laboratory

Research Interests

Neuroscience, Mitochondrial Disease, Metabolism, Genetic, Neurocritical Care